Keeping your ride healthy during lockdown

Ever wonder how some people manage to keep their cars shiny and new, despite their age?

Seeing as President Ramaphosa has locked down the country and restricted everything but essential movement from home, it stands to reason that a lot of people will be parking their cars for a few weeks.

Preparing a vehicle to be stored properly, whether outside or not, is important as a car or bike can still face wear and tear.

Dead batteries, flat spots on tyres, major engine wear on startup and damaged paint are concerns, especially over longer periods.

Thankfully, on the North Coast we have a lot of heat which makes maintenance easier, as opposed to protecting your vehicle from snow or ice.

According to car advice giant Edmunds, here are some steps you can take to maintain the longevity of your ride.

1. Family car wash
Also a great lockdown family activity, the easiest thing to do first is give it a good wash, without forgetting to clean the seals around the inside of the boot. This helps protect anything from sticking to the car.

2. Cover-up
Buy a car cover if your vehicle is going to stay outside, even if it is kept under an awning. This means you do not need to keep washing it every other day. Different sizes and shapes are available depending on the type of car you have.

3. Fill up the tank
Make sure you have a decent amount of fuel in the tank, which prevents tank rust on the inside. If you intend to leave the car for more than a week, add a fuel preservative, which stops fuel from changing its chemical structure.

4. Top up the engine
Make sure you have checked the oil and water in the engine.

5. Move it, move it!
If you are going to stay near the car, or merely leave it at home with you, gain a little more mileage from your motor and tyres by starting up and driving back and forth a few metres. This keeps the upper engine lubricated with oil which drains down to the sump, and moving the car stops your tyres from developing flat spots by bringing the rubber up to normal operating temperature again. This does not need to be done more than once every three or four days, but if you are leaving the car for a good few weeks, you could consider removing the wheels and leaving the car on stands.

6. Watch that battery
Buy a trickle charger. There is nothing worse than starting your car after a week, and all you hear is the ‘click’ from the starter solenoid. Batteries are expensive so a trickle charger is an important investment. Some chargers have a ‘winter’ mode, which simulates the car starting and driving sometimes during the day, by switching itself off periodically. This preserves the health of the battery cells and prevents over-charging.

7. Do not engage the handbrake
If you have the luxury of parking on a completely flat surface where the car will not roll, consider leaving the parking brake off. Prolonged contact between the brake discs and brake pads can often cause them to fuse.

8. Keep out the critters
While keeping your car in a warm garage might give you peace of mind, keeping the car in this environment could potentially attract rodents looking for a new home. Seal up any obvious parts of the exterior where mice might enter to keep them out.

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